Friends remember beloved Washburn librarian killed while biking

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Friends remember beloved Washburn librarian killed while biking

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Washburn University community is mourning the loss of a beloved librarian, killed Wednesday while riding his bike in a rural area near his home near Lawrence, Kan.

Friends say 60-year-old Cal Melick loved students and riding his bicycles the most.

Fellow faculty members Alan Bearman and Sean Bird say Melick had worked at Washburn University for 30 years and was always the first to help a student in need.

“Rarely do you find someone who may be irreplaceable,” Bearman said. “Certainly, I’m not irreplaceable. Cal might be the one person you’ll ever meet who was irreplaceable — both as a friend and colleague.”

Cal, more so than anyone else, wanted to make sure students were put at the forefront and, so, it’s been our guiding principle to make sure we’re ready when students come back on Monday.

Police say Melick was killed when he was hit by a car driven by 69-year old Werner Anderson of Lawrence. Anderson told FOX 4’s Sean McDowell he’s devastated by the accident — and wishes he could bring Melick back to life.

A spokesperson for the Douglas County Sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing.